Tooth aligning device for the aligning of workpiece with pre-cut teeth on gear finishing machines

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for the non-contact measurement of the position of the teeth (13) of a workpiece (14) with precut teeth on a gear finishing machine. The measuring probe, retractable from the measuring position into a position of rest protected against soiling, is arranged in a holder (5) for radial and axial adjustment relative to the workpiece, the said holder (5) being a kinematic member of a parallelogram linkage (A) and by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical swivel drive (11) is swivellable from stop to stop between measuring position and position of rest in a plane containing the workpiece axis, such that in the advancement action from the lower end position to the top end position motions of the measuring probe (1) tangential to the workpiece circumference are completely avoided. The parallelogram kinematics moreover afford adequate protection against swarf and grinding dust, and lends the device a high stiffness and reliability.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention concerns a device for the non-contact measurement of the position of the teeth on a pre-machined workpiece, which is set up for fine machining on the work spindle of a gear finishing machine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Increased demands on the running qualities of the gears in gear drives require more and more the precision finish machining of the gear teeth. In most cases the pre-machined workpieces are case-hardened, and then fine machined to the finished dimensions on all their functional surfaces. In this process the fine machining of the tooth flanks in particular is a complicated, resource consuming, and hence expensive operation. In the interests of economic manufacture, but also in order to avoid having to provide for unnecessarily large hardening depths and to balance and minimize the wear on the left and right flanks of the fine machining tool, it is therefore attempted to keep the material allowance for the fine machining as...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]It is an object of the present invention to provide an aligning device for aligning workpieces with pre-cut teeth on gear finishing machines by means of a non-contact functioning measuring probe, which device can be advanced from a position of rest to the measuring position, and which is of high static and dynamic stiffness and guarantees a high safety against functional disturbances and accuracy loss.

Problems solved by technology

In this process the fine machining of the tooth flanks in particular is a complicated, resource consuming, and hence expensive operation.

The solving of this seemingly trivial problem is not easy because, due to the short process times demanded, the measuring probe must be run to the measuring position at high speed and with high accuracy, must remain in position without vibrating during the measuring process, and then return just as quickly to its protected starting position.

The results of this are mostly a modest stiffness of the measuring structure and a high proneness to vibration, as well as to functional disturbances, and accuracy loss due to soiling and wear under severe production conditions.

The aligning errors caused by this lead to unequal material removal on the left and right flanks of the workpiece, and to rejects as soon as after finish machining—due to the small machining allowance—individual flanks are no longer machined over the entire flank surface.

Images